Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is being tube fed. Which action should the nurse preform when assessing a clients gastric residual volume?

Answer 1

When assessing a client's gastric residual volume, a nurse should gently aspirate the stomach contents through the feeding tube using a syringe, measure the amount obtained, and document the findings. This helps monitor the client's tolerance to feeding and identify potential complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a client's gastric residual volume, a nurse should perform the following action:

1. Gently aspirate the stomach contents through the feeding tube using a syringe.
2. Measure the amount of gastric contents obtained.
3. Document the findings and report any abnormal amounts to the healthcare provider.

Assessing gastric residual volume helps monitor the client's tolerance to tube feeding and can indicate potential complications such as delayed gastric emptying or gastrointestinal obstruction.